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| Crown Imperial - one whiff and you will never forget this skunky bulb. The distinctive flowers stand tall on stems 24 inches tall. They bloomed when we were selling our home in New Ulm, surrounded by giant yellow tulips. Visiting real estate agents were stunned. |
I ordered from Dutch Gardens today - surely the easiest garden I can plant, because each bulb is really a flower almost ready to bloom. The bulb grows almost to the top of the soil surface when planted, then waits for a good winter, and finally blooms according its normal schedule. The greens gather energy for the bulb to repeat each year, although tulips tend to fade over time.
Dutch Gardens offer the best bulbs for the lowest prices. I once looked at "special daffodil" ordering, where a single bulb priced at $100. They looked like they were worth it, and the specialty catalogs promised abundant growth. But I resisted the temptation.
Instead I get the healthiest (fattest) bulbs at a good price. The Dutch Gardens daffodils are doubles or triples I have to pull apart to plant. That means a $3 bulb is really three $1 bulbs. Many people buy $1 bulbs in the hardware store that are really 50 cent bulbs in value and size.
The tulip bulbs from Dutch Gardens make other catalog offerings look like walnuts.
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| Ceylon daffodil - tall and not very yummy for furry pests. |
I would like to grow many small bulbs, like crocus, but squirrels will dig them up and replant them. The tree-rats lay claim to anything edible in the soil. Of course, they eat a few bulbs too. Tulips can be eaten - and they were by the Dutch during WWII and by the deer at Dow Gardens. I decided to risk a very small order of Parade Red tulips.
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| Forget those fancy-dancy tulips with various colors and fringes and other distractions. The best tulip is large, egg-shaped, and solid red or yellow. |
The garlic family (allium) is essential for any garden, so I plant garlic chives for the roses and future salads.
The giant allium is an impressive compound flower, with the additional benefit of yukky for animals or insects.
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| Allium - these garlic bulbs are so large that children are frightened of them. |
That is my entire order - tulips, daffodils, allium, and crown imperial. Three of them should not be tempting to squirrels. I may protect tulips with garlic planted above or beside them.
Sceptics are wondering where I will plant them in the yard. That will be fun - between the roses. I can plant allium and crown imperial between the roses in the back two rows. Tulips will be in front, alone, required for their dignity and honor in the garden. The daffodils will be a drift around and behind the crepe myrtle bush.
